J.R. Smith and Knicks agree to new deal

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Knicks have officially agreed to
a contract extension with swingman J.R. Smith that will keep the NBA's Sixth
Man of the Year with the club for another four years.

The New York Daily News reported last Thursday that Smith signed a maximum
deal allowable which will pay him approximately $25 million over the duration
of the deal.

His contract was then finalized on Thursday, a day after the NBA's moratorium
was lifted.

"Re-signing J.R. was one of our primary goals this offseason and we are
thrilled to have him back," Knicks general manger Glen Grunwald said. "He made
great strides this past season with his consistent play off the bench for us,
and we look forward to his continued growth."

Smith averaged 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while coming off the bench for
all 80 games he appeared in last season. The nine-year pro led all league
reserves in scoring, 30-point games (seven) and 20-point efforts (29), while
his point total ranked second to NBA scoring champ Carmelo Anthony among
members of the Atlantic Division champion Knicks.

The 27-year-old Smith added 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game as an integral
part of a New York squad that posted its highest win total (54) since
1996-97 and claimed the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The
Knicks lost to the Pacers in the conference semifinals.